coastal cowgirl Archives

Musically, 2023 was defined by the return of major female pop stars, sonic diversity that topped the charts, and a global music atmosphere that gave rise to powerful genres. On the podcast front, creators are responding to trends in real time, and audiences are turning to podcasts to join larger cultural conversations. As always, our 2023 Spotify Wrapped campaign reflects these trends, and our toplists showcase how over 574 million people around the world listened this year.

Read on to learn more about the top artists, songs, albums, and podcasts of 2023, then take a look at the personalized Wrapped user experience that celebrates your own year in listening.

The top global artists of 2023

Reimagined rereleases, record-breaking world tours, and colorful friendship bracelets—fans everywhere will be thrilled to see Taylor Swift as this year’s top artist, with more than 26.1 billion global streams since January 1. In the 48 hours leading up to this crowning moment, Spotify revealed 21 puzzle pieces with Taylor Swift-themed easter eggs in billboards from Sao Paulo to Jakarta. These clues culminated in a spotlight video that included nods to her universe—featuring everything from cats to her infamous red lips. For a limited time, when you play one of her songs on Spotify, watch as the progress bar changes and sparkles to match the song’s era color.

Taking second place was reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny, who also had a standout year with a new album, nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana. Rounding up the top five were The Weeknd, Drake, and Peso Pluma.

The top global songs of 2023

The top song of the year, Miley Cyrus’s record-breaking “Flowers,” had incredible momentum from the day of its debut through the summer months and now counts more than 1.6 billion streams globally. In the second and third spots are “Kill Bill” by SZA and “As It Was” by Harry Styles. The fourth and fifth spots come from Jung Kook with “Seven (feat. Latto),” and Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma with “Ella Baila Sola.”

The top global albums of 2023

Listeners looked to the past in choosing which albums to play, as several of this year’s top-five albums were released prior to 2023. The most-streamed album of the year for the second year in a row was Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny, with more than 4.5 billion streams globally, followed by Taylor Swift’s album Midnights. SZA takes the third spot with SOS. And in the fourth and fifth spots are Starboy by The Weeknd and MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO by KAROL G.

The top global podcasts of 2023

Spotify is the most-used audio podcast platform in many key markets around the world and is also the number-one podcast publisher in the U.S., according to the most recent Edison Research data. And for the fourth time in a row, The Joe Rogan Experience takes the honor of top podcast of the year globally. In second place for the second year is Call Her Daddy, and in third, Huberman Lab, followed by anything goes with emma chamberlain and On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Eight of the top 25 podcasts on the global top lists are Spotify Owned & Licensed podcasts, and nine of the top 25 podcasts in the U.S. are as well.

Throughout the year, these podcasts, as well as many others, spotlighted top moments in pop culture, from music to movies to technology.

The spring and summer were full of girl- and women-powered media. The combinations of Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, and the success of the Barbie movie led to cultural conversations across many genres of podcasts about both economics and entertainment.
Throughout the year, the world was fascinated, frustrated, and sometimes frightened by the rise in AI. Podcasts offered a critical and nuanced take on the rising tech trend.

Catch the full year in podcast trends here.

The global trends that shaped our year

These most-streamed artists, songs, albums, and podcasts weren’t the only guideposts to 2023. Pop culture trends also fueled listening, from themed playlists to song spikes.

This year, Eurovision made a huge impact, as “Tattoo” by winner Loreen and “Cha Cha Cha” by runner-up Käärijä both reached the top 10 global daily chart the day after the final.
Gen Z continues to embrace the genreless/genre-hybrid trend, refusing to be defined by only one genre, and instead moving seamlessly between sounds. They also embrace moods, looking for playlists and songs that best describe the mood or moment they’re in.
This year also marked a significant surge in Colombian enthusiasm for Mexican music. Colombia emerged as the fifth-largest consumer of Mexican music in 2023, showcasing an 85% increase in its consumption over the year.
The consumption of Indian classical instrumental music continues to grow on Spotify in India and around the world. In the last 24 months, India’s classical music consumption grew by close to 500% on Spotify. Over 45% of Indian classical music listeners on Spotify are under the age of 25.
Afrobeats is one of the fastest-growing genres on Spotify, growing by 550% since 2017 with new audiences emerging in Mexico and India. In 2023, Rema’s “Calm Down” became the first Afrobeats artist-led track to hit a billion streams on Spotify.
Mandopop, with top artists like Jay Chou, JJ Lin, and Eason Chan, has received more than 500 million monthly streams globally, seeing an almost 45% increase in the past year.

Read on for a few notable trends that spiked throughout the year.

February

The Big Game and Valentine’s Day prompted huge increases in listening around moments that fans couldn’t help but love.

March

Television finales and springtime vibes made way for character playlists and dreamy, twangy tracks.

May

A new sports craze and the return of a beloved children’s movie resulted in two large spikes.

July

Cherry-red tomatoes and hot-pink playlists colored a summer full of girl power.

October

Memes powered by social media played a pivotal role throughout the year in creating buzz and playlists, and this October was no different.

All year long:

Spotify 2023 Wrapped Global Top Lists

Most-Streamed Artists Globally

Most-Streamed Songs Globally

“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Kill Bill” by SZA
“As It Was” by Harry Styles
“Seven (feat. Latto)” by Jung Kook
“Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
“Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
“Creepin’ (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage)” by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage
“Calm Down (with Selena Gomez)” by Rema, Selena Gomez
“Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” by Bizarrap, Shakira
“Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

Most-Streamed Albums Globally

Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
Midnights by Taylor Swift
SOS by SZA
Starboy by The Weeknd
MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO by KAROL G
One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen
Lover by Taylor Swift
HEROES & VILLAINS by Metro Boomin
GÉNESIS by Peso Pluma
Harry’s House by Harry Styles

Top Podcasts Globally

Spotify 2023 Wrapped U.S. Top Lists

U.S. Most-Streamed Artists

U.S. Most-Streamed Songs

“Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
“Kill Bill” by SZA
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
“Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma
“Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress, Ice Spice
“Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
“Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan
“You Proof” by Morgan Wallen
“Creepin’ (with The Weeknd & 21 Savage)” by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, 21 Savage
“Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

U.S. Most-Streamed Albums

One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen
SOS by SZA
Midnights by Taylor Swift
HEROES & VILLAINS by Metro Boomin
Dangerous: The Double Album by Morgan Wallen
Lover by Taylor Swift
Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
folklore by Taylor Swift
GÉNESIS by Peso Pluma
Starboy by The Weeknd

Top Podcasts in the U.S.

Tracking the hottest global streams

To help visualize what’s hot worldwide, we’ve created a map that highlights the most popular tunes in more than 100 countries across the Northern Hemisphere. The map will update weekly, starting May 27, to show the latest sizzling tracks from different countries.

Click the white dots on the map below to see what’s trending in far-off destinations.

Coastal cowgirl: It’s a vibe. This aesthetic, inspired by a mixture of slow-paced country living and sun-soaked coastal dreaminess, has been trending on social media lately, and it’s making waves on Spotify.

From across the globe, we recently saw a nearly 1,430% increase* in the creation of user-generated coastal cowgirl playlists. These playlists feature a mix of genres like country, new wave pop, indie pop, stomp and holler, and sunshine pop.

Some of the top tracks added to user-generated coastal cowgirl playlists on Spotify include “Texas Sun” by Khruangbin and Leon Bridges, “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks, “Slow Burn” and “Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves, “Southern Nights” by Glen Campbell, “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, “Take It Easy” by Eagles, “Malibu” by Miley Cyrus, “Island In The Sun” by Weezer, “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas, and “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina.

Paige Lorenze, a content creator, channels coastal cowgirl pretty effortlessly. She was raised in Vermont and, after spending a few years in New York City, settled in Connecticut, where she now shares her love of horses, fashion, and fun with her followers. A glance through Paige’s vlog shows days spent at her barn and looks featuring cowboy boots, but she also posts beauty tips and has highlights of her international travels.

Paige’s predilection for the trend made her the perfect person to take over Spotify’s own coastal cowgirl playlist. She helped curate a list of songs that serve as the perfect soundtracks for the desert, beach, or rural dirt roads. For the Record caught up with Paige to learn more about the coastal cowgirl vibe, and how she picked songs for the playlist.

How would you define the “coastal cowgirl” vibe?

The coastal cowgirl vibe is all about incorporating western fashion with coastal elements, creating a relaxed-yet-chic look. It’s about blending earthy tones with denim and leather pieces, accessorizing with cowboy hats and boots, and incorporating horse-riding culture. Whatever makes you feel grounded in nature and in your roots.

How did you pick songs for Spotify’s coastal cowgirl playlist?

I wanted to curate a playlist that reflects the coastal cowgirl vibe and showcases artists who represent this culture. I included country and indie-folk artists like Kenny Chesney, Leon Bridges, and Mazzy Star, who write calming, breezy songs that are perfect to sing along to in the car or play during a relaxing day on the beach.

Can you talk specifically about a song you included and why you thought of it for the playlist?

One song I included was “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. I chose this song because it speaks to the idea of building a strong sense of self and overcoming obstacles. Plus, it’s a classic that everyone knows and loves! I grew up loving this song, as I’m sure a lot of people did.

Why is this playlist the perfect curation for fans getting ready for festivals this summer?

This playlist is perfect for anyone getting ready for festivals because it captures the essence of the western and coastal cultures, which is what these festivals are all about. The songs are a mix of old and new and represent different genres that everyone can enjoy. And the playlist creates the perfect atmosphere for a day filled with sunshine, music, and good vibes.

What’s your favorite thing about this trend?

I love that the coastal cowgirl trend is sustainable and timeless. It’s all about good basic pieces and good boots that will last you forever. I love that all my boots are so in now. I have some amazing cowboy boots and boots passed down from my mom. Also, I love how growing up riding and having horses in the fields behind my house is paying off!

Channel your own coastal cowgirl vibe with our playlist below.

*This data is global and reflects the increase in playlist creation from February 16 through March 2 to March 2 through March 16, 2023.

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